Cork-extractor.



JQ H. THOMAS.

, CORK EXTRAUTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1909.

Patentd Jan. 18,1910.

Wile/Men nivrrnn s rariis PATENT FTQE.

JOHN H. THOMAS, OF THOMASVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE IVI. HOOVER, OF EHOIKASVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

CORK-EXTRACTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Thomasville, in the county of Davidson and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cork-Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cork extractors, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide a simple and convenient device for extracting corks without disintegrating the cork.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cork extractor which can be carried in the pocket and which can be quickly brought into position for use in extracting corks of various sizes without breaking the cork and without making a hole through the same.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cork extractor made in accordance with my inven tion, and shown in folded position ready for the pocket. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the extractor extended from the handle, and showing in dotted lines the extractor thrown down at right angles to the handle. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the extractor shown in position for use. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sliding head with the trunnions removed.

Referring to the drawing. the numeral 1 designates the handle member of the cork extractor, preferably formed of comparatively thin sheet metal and bent into U-shape in cross section. Alined slots 2 are formed in the opposite sides of the member 1.

Mounted to slide in the handle 1 is a head 3, said head having a rounded upper surface 4: to fit the inner wall of the handle 1, while the lower surface 5 may be roughened, as at 6, to assist in sliding the head in and out of the handle 1. A pin 7 forming oppositely disposed trunnions 8 is fitted in a hole 9 extending through the head 3. An aperture 10 extends through the head 3 at the side of the hole 9, and extending from the aperture 10 out to the end of the head 3 upon opposite sides thereof is a groove 11. Ex-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 497.809.

tending from the aperture 10 to the lower edge of the head 3 upon opposite sides thereof is a groove 12.

The extractor element consists of a strip of elastic steel extended through the aperture l0 and bent upon itself to form the two parallel members 13 which are provided with offsets 14:, said members 13 having their outer ends 15 oppositely beveled, as at 16. The ends 15 are slightly flared outward and are sharpened on the beveled edges 16. Above the sharpened and beveled edges the inner walls of the members 13 are roughened or provided with biting teeth 17 de signed to engage the sides of a cork and to assist in removing the same.

The manner of operating the cork extractor may be briefly described as follows: When the extractor is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the sliding head 3 is moved toward the left hand end of the handle member 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2 to extend the extracting element 13, after which the member 13 is thrown down at right angles, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Then the sliding head 3 is moved toward the center of the member 1 until the extracting element occupies a position centrally to the handle 1 and extending at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the beveled points 16 are inserted at the opposite sides of the cork or stopper in a bottle. After the teeth 17 engage the cork or stopper, by merely turning the handle 1 and pulling outward the cork is re moved without breaking or destroying the same.

The grooves 11 upon opposite sides of the head serve to hold the extracting member in alinement with the handle when closed, while the grooves 12 hold the extracting element in operative position when thrown at right angles to the handle.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a cork extractor made in accordance with my invention can be used for extracting corks of various sizes from bottles without breaking up the cork and rendering it unfit for future use. Moreover, many of the corks used are of such quality that they will readily break up in small pieces when operated upon by the ordinary corkscrew.

My extractor is especially designed to withdraw corks and not permit small portions of the cork to drop into the bottle and destroy the contents thereof or render it unfit for use Without straining.

I elaim:--

1,. A cork extractor comprising a handle member having slotted sides, a head mounted to slide in said handle, said head having oppositely projecting trunnions to move in the slots in said handle, an extracting element pivotally mounted in said head, said extracting element comprising resilient arms having oppositely beveled ends, sharpened oppositely disposed edges, and roughened inner surfaces.

2. A cork extractor comprising a handle member, a sliding head mounted in said handle member, said head having an aperture and oppositely disposed grooves leading from the aperture to the end of the head, said head also having grooves leading from said aperture to the bottom of the head,

JOHN H. THOMAS.

lVitnesses E. F. VESTMORELAND, B. E. lVooLLEN. 

